In St Quentin la Poterie, the fourth of July dawned at 06.04 with the news that a military coup in Egypt has taken place in the name of democracy, that President Evo Morales’ jet had been denied airspace by France, Italy, Spain and Portugal in the search for Edward Snowden, and that a listening device has been discovered in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. There is other important news this morning of course – notably the walk-off win by the Sox and Duke Robillard leaving Dylan’s band after apparently receiving a message from God; but the army intervention in Egypt, the quasi-kidnapping of Morales and the latest revelation in the surveillance story seem somehow to be particularly appropriate on a day when we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I say ‘we’ because the 4th of July 1776 is as important a date in the history of the world as the 14th of July 1789: it is an occasion which should be marked by all people of all nations. And the second sentence – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” – predates the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France. The three events of this morning’s news throw the fine prose and aspirations of Jefferson and Adams into sharp focus. To what extent do these actions reflect the moral philosophy which underpinned the Declaration? In what sense are the various governments involved acting in accordance with the ‘constitution’? One has to say, not at all. While I have no time for any government which bases its actions on religious rather than secular premises, I have no time for any military overthrow of freely and fairly elected representatives. I understand the call by President Morales for Europe “to free itself from the US Empire”. And I share the anger of Ecuador at the bugging of its embassy which, if it was carried out by the British intelligence services, must have – or do I mean should have? - been approved by the Home Secretary. Today of course is a very particular and important anniversary, but it is merely one day of many on which similar actions have taken place. Our constitutions, written or otherwise, are ignored as a matter of course by those who, in their public pronouncements, pay lip service to the ideals which lie at their heart. But perhaps today is the day when those of us who aspire to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness might question those who use force to negate the democratic process, who throw the full weight of global power at a single person who has got in the way, or who invade the privacy of states and individuals for … what? Hey, we might do more than question. We could and should protest.

A very happy fourth of July to everyone, but especially to our American friends in Leamington Spa (enjoy this evening!) and in Boston MA.Today’s listening: The Bob Phillips Rhythm Band’s tribute concert on the occasion of Dylan’s 60th birthday. A great show which deserves a wider audience.

'All men are created equal'. I guess they meant apart from all those handy slaves.

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Max

8/7/2013 01:42:42 am

True. Jefferson, wasn't it?

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Didier

4/7/2013 06:21:52 am

At least the French have apologised.

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Allan

4/7/2013 06:37:14 am

... and the Italians have surrendered!

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Max

8/7/2013 01:43:55 am

Oh dear, national stereotypes!

Clive Marshall

4/7/2013 06:43:18 am

The events bear no relationship of any kind - unless you count contradistinction. You are right that the declaration is a fine piece of prose, but it is like the Bible. There is enough in it for everyone to be able to use in support of their position. Jefferson with his slaves and the National Rifle Association spring to mind. Egypt is difficult. Not sure who is whom and what will happen, but agree with you about the precedent that is being created. Remember Chile?

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Max

8/7/2013 01:46:09 am

Chile was clear cut. As was Spain last century. What we seem to have here is a divided nation, in which neither side has majority or high ground.

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MattS

4/7/2013 08:29:13 am

You understate your case.

It is the US which supports - financially and politically - the Ehyptian military.

It is the US which forced the European nations to divert the jet.

It is the US which, as Snowden has shown, is responsible for the surveillance intrusions on all of us.

I remember Chile.

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Alison

5/7/2013 08:23:32 am

Today's grauniad reports US subsidies of 1.3 billion dollars to Egyptian military. But Obama is expressing concern at the army's actions. Suspect the concern is phony.

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Max

8/7/2013 01:48:51 am

On this occasion, I don't. I suspect the concern is exactly that. Further, having listened to the various statements - Hague, White House and the egregious Blair this morning, that our 'leaders' are as confused as I remain.

Max

8/7/2013 01:46:59 am

And I think you overstate yours.

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Parn123

4/7/2013 04:10:40 pm

I think you should all read this about what's at stake in Egypt:
The End of Islamism? By
Hazem Kandil 4 July 2013
http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/author/hazem-kandil/#sthash.CnSJUw5o.dpuf

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max

8/7/2013 01:49:32 am

I will do so.

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CJ

4/7/2013 11:56:03 pm

Ok. You got me. Who is Bob Phillips?

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Max

8/7/2013 01:51:21 am

A group of pro and semi-pro musicians who love Bob's music and come together du temps en temps to play it. Based in Warwick and Leamington. Played some great sets in Wilde's and will be at Cropedy again this year ...

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Rick Hough

7/7/2013 10:24:06 pm

In the long view, it often seems that even in 1776, the whole process was fueled by a comingling of theater and intellectual exercise. Franklin seemed the most forthright in acknowledging the commercial imperatives behind the ideals and Howard Zinn did a great job of delineating how the 4% who owned all the property convinced the mechanics to fight for these “ideals”.
Sometimes it just works better for me if I think it took the efforts of a bunch of sharp fellas in the 2nd half of the 18th century to get us to the really important parts : Sun Studio in Memphis and Ed Roth in SoCal. The rest, as they say, has been tribute.

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Max

8/7/2013 01:55:22 am

Like this. Of course true that commercial imperatives drive all progress. Sun Studio, yes. Ed Roth? Not so sure (but know many who would agree with you!)